Washington, DC Travel guide

The New York Times always publishes a yearly 52 Places to Go. This year’s number one pick? Washington, D.C. Despite the drama in the White House these days, D.C. is actually an amazing city. I knew I had to get this guide up soon with the recent list release, so here are a few of my favorite places in D.C.

VISITING THE Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC

We went during cherry blossom season, which I would highly recommend. Even though it’s a popular time, we were able to find great flight and hotel deals. The only risk with planning ahead is that the peak bloom occurs at a different point every year. We planned for around the time they usually bloom (late March, early April) and were lucky enough to be there right as the flowers were really starting to blossom. You can track the yearly progress here.

We stayed at the Wink Hotel. It had a great location and was brand new at the time. There are no shortage of hotels in D.C., so I recommend staying in the city itself if you can.

Things to do in Washington, DC

D.C. is the perfect place to go on a trip and spend little to nothing while seeing all the sights, thanks to the Smithsonian museums (and your tax dollars). We went to the National Portrait Gallery, the botanical gardens, and the American History Museum. You can view a full list of all of them here. I recommend getting there early to avoid the line, or at the very least, get in with the large line when it opens.

My favorite neighborhood to stroll in D.C. is Georgetown, home of the famous Georgetown Cupcakes. There is old architecture and charm on every corner. It’s also a little ways away from the monuments and museums, giving it a very different vibe.

District Wharf is a newer area in D.C. that I also really enjoyed; you can sit by the water, go to the fish market, or walk around shopping and hit up the Milk Bar store.

When visiting the monuments in D.C. especially during cherry blossom season, the best way to go is by bike. There are city bikes available to rent throughout the city. You can easily navigate throughout the monuments with little car traffic, and stop wherever you want to look at the monuments, or take pictures of the cherry blossoms.

Where to Eat in Washington, DC

I had some truly amazing food in D.C. Cava Mezze is the perfect spot for brunch and bottomless mimosas for just $35. A stop at Philz Coffee was a must after. The coolest dinner experience we had was at Spoken English, a hidden gem in the Line Hotel, with a standing chef’s table experience. The food was great and it felt like we were VIPS, dining in a ten person room and seeing our food be made before our eyes. It was also very affordable for this type of experience. A few other favorite spots for food were 801 Restaurant, Farmers Fishers Bakers, and The Fainting Goat.

Where to Drink in Washington, DC

We went to a lot of cool bars, including the Takoda Rooftop, W Hotel Rooftop, and the Cherry Blossom Pop-Up Bar - TBD if this is coming back for 2020. If you’re looking for a fun, young area to go out, Logan Circle has great bars and a lot of rooftops.

No matter what your interest, D.C. has something for everyone.

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